Preparing the Exterior of Your Commercial Building for a Hurricane

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial building in Harrisonville, MO

Preparing the Exterior of Your Commercial Building for a Hurricane

When the meteorologist is calling for a hurricane to make landfall in or near Harrisonville, MO, you want to make sure that your commercial building is ready for anything. Working proactively throughout the year to keep your building maintained will minimize risk once the storm blows in. Performing exterior maintenance one more time just before the hurricane hits is one way to ensure that everything that can be done has been done. Make sure to complete these three steps when preparing the exterior of your building for a hurricane’s arrival.

1. Trim Tree Limbs
Any overhanging, loose or dead tree limbs should be cut back. A fallen branch can damage the roof, possibly even puncturing the membrane. Windows could be shattered by an out of control branch. Loose or falling tree limbs can also become projectiles in heavy winds damaging nearby properties or even injuring people.

2. Remove Potential Projectiles
One of the most important types of exterior maintenance is making sure that potential projectiles are put away or secured. This is not only important for your own property but could potentially affect other properties around your building. Signs, displays, trashcans, tables and chairs are no match when it comes to hurricane-force winds. You will also want to make sure that any parts of the building that are loose that could tear away in high winds are taken care of, such as loose siding, shingles, etc.

3. Clean Gutters, Downspouts and Drains
Make sure that gutters, downspouts and drains are clear of leaves and debris. Water flow and drainage are very important to avoid flooding during heavy rains.
Taking proactive steps in the form of exterior maintenance may not mean that there will be no hurricane damage. However, keeping your building maintained will always pay off in the long run. If your commercial building sustains storm damage be sure to get a building inspection and call on storm cleanup professionals to get it back up to code.